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Remembering Chloe Foutz

Chloe Vennie Foutz '61 was born March 31, 1938 in rural Seminole County, Oklahoma, near the small community of Vamoosa. After graduating high school in Seminole, she began the first two years of her college career at Southwestern Junior College (now Southwestern Adventist University). Little did she know that her student work in the library at Southwestern and later at Union would give impetus to her lifelong profession as a librarian.

Chloe graduated from Union College in 1961 and chose the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to earn a master of library science degree. Upon completion of a master's, Chloe returned to Union in 1962 as its first public services librarian. She never looked back except in the matter of history. Chloe was an unabashed history buff, and she reveled in the discovery, collection and preservation of history, particularly as it pertained to Union College.

During Chloe's tenure as librarian, she helped establish the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Librarians (ASDAL) in 1981. She attended every ASDAL conference since its inception and was known among her library colleagues as the Grandmother of ASDAL." She was also an avid genealogy enthusiast, and had planned to continue researching her personal genealogy upon retirement.

In 1971 Chloe became the first woman alumni association president at Union in 30 years, and served in that capacity twice in her lifetime. During her second tenure as president, she helped lead the college through its centennial celebration in 1991. It was natural for Chloe to be part of any event that included history of the college.

Chloe's zest for life, legendary sense of humor, love of libraries and knowledge of campus history will be sorely missed. She is survived by nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. Gifts in her memory may be directed to Union College Advancement Office, 3800 South 48th Street, Lincoln, NE 68506 and will benefit the college library.